figure



March 17', 1964 c. E. sTANsELl. 3,125,267'

DISPENSING DEVICES vw ii f7? if INVENTOR Charles E. Sfonsell W7 I ,A

FI g I 4 W ATTORNEYS March 17, 1964 c. E. s'rANsELl. 3,125,267

DISPENSING DEVICES Filed Feb. 10, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nvBNToR Charles E. Stonsell ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,125,267 DISPENSING DEVlCES Charles E. Stansell, Dallas, Tex., assigner to Trolex Corporation, Dallas, Tex., 'a corporation of Texas Filed Feb. 10, 1961, Ser. No. 8S,530 7 Claims. (Cl. 226-83) This invention relates to dispensing devices and more particularly to a device for dispensing perforated tapes or strips of trading stamps, coupons, and the like.

This application is a continuation-impart of the copending application Serial No. 815,631, filed May 25,

1959, now Patent No. 3,084,840.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device for dispensing predetermined lengths of a transversely perforated tape or strip such as a strip of trading stamps, coupons, or the like.

Another object is to provide a stamp dispensing device for dispensing a predetermined number of stamps from a rolled strip of stamps having an electric power means for dispensing stamps from the strip and a control means for energizing the power means to cause the power means to dispense the predetermined number of stamps.

Still another object is to provide a stamp dispensing device for dispensing a single stamp from a rolled strip of stamps, said device having an electric power means, and a button switch control means for energizing the power means whereby momentary actuation of the button switch initiates operation of the power means to cause the device to dispense a single stamp.

A further object is to provide a stamp dispensing device for dispensing a strip of longitudinally aligned stamps which has a positive locking means for stopping actuation of a stamp driving means when a preselected number of stamps has been dispensed thereby and to position the last dispensed stamp of the strip of stamps in such position relative to a tearing edge that is readily severable at its line of connection to the next adjacent undispensed stamp whereby tearing of the stamps is precluded.

Another object is to provide a stamp dispensing device having a drive roller for moving a strip of stamps and a pressure clamp means adjacent the drive roller having a clamping surface conforming to the roller surface whereby the clamping means will yieldably hold the strip of stamps in engagement with the drive roller, the clamping means being mounted for movement away from the drive roller to facilitate threading of the stamps strip between the drive roller and clamp means.

Still another object is to provide a dispensing device having a spool on which a supply roll of stamps may be easily mounted, a drive means for unspooling the stamps whereby the stamps may be dispensed, and a braking means to prevent undue rotation of the spool and unwinding of the stamps when the drive means is rendered inoperative, the braking action of the braking means being greatest when the roll of stamps is of largest size and decreasing as the supply roll decreases.

A still further object is to provide an electrical control means for a stamp dispensing device comprising a solenoid plunger releasably engaged with the drive roller which dispenses or feeds stamps from the stamp dispensing device and adapted to prevent rotation of the roller when engaged therewith; a relay operated by a button switch for energizing the plunger to release the drive roller for rotation; means comprising a switch adapted to be closed by operation of the plunger for energizing an electric motor to drive the roller; a relay hold means comprising a circuit having a switch operated by the relay for maintaining energization of the relay, solenoid, and motor when the button switch is opened; and a normally closed switch in said circuit means mechanically controlled by the drive roller to be opened after a prelice determined rotary movement thereof to de-energize the relay and solenoid, whereby mechanical engagement of the solenoid with the drive roller will arrest rotation of the drive roller when an integral number of stamps has been dispensed.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent from the reading of the following description of a device constructed in accordance with the invention, and reference to the accompanying drawings thereof, wherein: FIGURE 1 is a view of the stamp dispensing device as normally arranged in a housing;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional View of the stamp dispensing device as taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary and enlarged sectional view taken in the same plane as FIGURE 2 and showing the pressure clamping means in retracted position from the drive roller for accommodating the loading and threading of stamps in the dispensing device; and

FIGURE 4 is a circuit diagram of the electrical control means of the device.

Referring now to the drawings, the stamp dispensing unit 1 is shown positioned to one side in a housing of which only a bottom wall 2 and a front Wall 3 is illustrated. The stamp dispensing unit may be enclosed in any suitable housing but, as illustrated, may be positioned to one side within a housing which may enclose other apparatus such as, for example, another stamp dispensing means, of the type disclosed in the copending application, a register, or the like. The back wall, not shown, of the housing should be readily removable or otherwise provided with a door to permit easy access to the stamp dispensing unit within whenever it is necessary to replenish the supply of stamps or to repair or replace the unit.

The device is designed to dispense stamps, coupons, or the Ilike which are of the usual rectangular shape and which are arranged in a single column in the form of a long strip of stamps having transverse lines of tear perforations between adjacent stamps. The stamps are dispensed through a narrow, rectangular slot in the front wall of the housing. By operation of the device, only an integral number of stamps are dispensed through the slot such that the usual transverse tear perforations in a single column of stamps are aligned with the bottom of the slot in the front wall whereby a desired number of stamps may be readily torn olf without tearing apart any one of the stamps.

The stamp dispensing unit includes a rotatable spool 4 on which a supply roll of stamps may be disposed thereon. The spool 4 is of a size to accommodate a roll which comprises a strip of stamps in a single longitudinal column. The spool is provided with an axle 4a, the ends of which are placed in slots 5 and 6 recessed in the vertical legs 7 and 8, respectively, of an inverted U-shaped bracket 9. From their open ends, the slots extend downwardly and forwardly in the legs 7 and 8 and are symmetrically located so that the spool rests horizontally when supported in the slots. The U-shaped bracket is attached to and offset laterally from a vertical supporting plate 10 which stands erect on the housing bottom 2. The U- bracket is provided with a horizontal arm 11 integral with the lower end of the leg 8 of the bracket. The horizontal arm has a vertical extension or ilange 12 which is secured to the vertical supporting plate by means of screws 13 and 14 inserted through suitable holes in the flange for accommodating the screws. A roll of stamps wound about the spool 4 may be readily unwound in a vertical plane when the spool is placed between the vertical legs of the U-shaped bracket with its axle ends resting in the slots S and 6 in the vertical legs.

A braking meansl for preventing overrunning of the spool comprises a brake bar 15 which is pivotally mounted in a vertical plane between the legs of the U-shaped bracket. The brake bar is pivoted on a horizontal pivot pin 16 which extends between the legs 7 and S of the bracket and is attached thereto in a position substantially adjacent the web portion 17 of the U-shaped bracket. The brake bar is designed to rest against the peripheral surface of the stamp roll and through friction between the adjacent surfaces of the brake bar and the roll of stamps provide braking force preventing overrunning and undue unwinding of the spool. To increase the braking capability of the brake bar, a weight 18 is attached to its free end by a screw 19. The force with which the brake bar engages the roll of stamps decreases as the roll decreases in size and stamps are dispensed. Hence, the greatest braking action exists when it is needed most to prevent overrunning of the roll, i.e., when the roll of stamps is of large diameter and has large angular momentum at any rotational speed.

To stock the dispensing machine with stamps to be dispensed thereby, the spool with a roll of stamps thereon is placed in the U-shaped bracket so that the strip of stamps may be unwound as the spool is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction, as seen in FIGURE 2. The strip of stamps is then threaded about guide rollers 20 and 21 and a drive roller 22 for delivery to a narrow chute 23 having an end slot 24 in aligned relationship with a stamp dispensing slot in the front wall of the housing. The guide rollers 20 and 21 have horizontal shafts 20a and 21a, respectively, which are journalled in a vertical supporting bracket plate 25 attached to the bottom 2 of the housing to the left of the vertical supporting plate 10, as seen in FIGURE 1, and extending parallel to the vertical supporting plate 10. Each guide roller has a spacer portion 26 adjacent the support 25 and a portion of reduced diameter 27 about which the strip of stamps may be threaded. The shafts of the guide rollers are attached to the vertical support 25 in horizontally aligned relationship. The shafts are also parallel to one another and the axle 4a and their reduced diameter portions are vertically aligned with the spool 4.

The strip of stamps as unwound from the spool 4 passes under the guide roller 20 and over the guide roller 21 as shown in FIGURE 2. The strip is then passed about the rear of a drive roller 22 so that clockwise rotation of the roller 22, as seen in FGURE 2, causes the strip to be unwound. The stamp drive roller 22 is mounted on a shaft 28 which in turn is rotatably mounted on the vertical supporting plates 25 and 10. Circumferentially spaced drive lugs 29 on the surface of the drive roller are adapted to be received in the transverse tear perforations in the strip of stamps for driving the strip as the roller rotates. Preferably, the drive lugs are arranged in pairs on the roller, each pair being angularly spaced from each other pair on the roller to suitably align with each transverse row of tear perforations on the stamp strip. The drive roller is in the form of a circular cylinder having small annular guide flanges 22a and 22b extending circumferentially about the roller and projecting slightly from the roller surface, to guide the strip of stamps as it is driven by the roller.

The chute 23 is placed below the drive roller 22 so that the strip of stamps on being driven by the drive roller 22 will pass therefrom into the throat of the chute for delivery to the stamp dispensing slot in the front of the housing. The chute is substantially rectangular in crosss`ection, having lateral sides 30, a bottom 31, and a top 31a. The chute is supported at its throat end just below the drive roller by a suitable vertical support 32 having one end 33 attached to the housing floor and its other end 34 angularly disposed thereto and providing a rest for the bottom of the chute which is attached thereto by welding or other suitable means. A triangular guide wedge 35 is also fastened to the bottom of the chute below the stamp drive roller 22 to guide the stamp strip into the chute. The top of the chute is of shorter length 4 than the chute bottom and has one end aligned with the end of the chute bottom to form the slot 24 and its other end above the triangular guide wedge and just below the surface of the guide roller to form a part of the chute throat for receiving the stamp strip from the drive roller. The mouth end of the chute may be supported on the housing Hoor by a support bracket similar to the bracket 32 or by any other suitable means. The end slot 34 of the chute is in alignment with the stamp dispensing slot in the front wall of the housing.

The drive roller is driven by an electric motor 40 attached to the vertical supporting plate 10 on the side thereof opposite the spool and rollers. The horizontal shaft 41 of the motor is disposed perpendicularly to the vertical plate 10 and extends through an accommodating aperture in the platte. A sprocket `42 is rigidly attached to the end of the shaft on the side of the plate opposite the motor 10. A drive chain 43 extends about the sprocket of the motor shaft and about a sprocket 414 rigidly lsecured to the drive roller shaft 28 whereby the motor when energized causes the drive roller to rotate. The operation of the motor is controlled by a button switch 45 mounted in the front wall of the housing. By pressing the button, a relay 46 is actuated to energize a solenoid 47 whose plunger closes a switch 48 to connect the motor across a source of current.

The solenoid 47, rigidly secured to the vertical supporting plate 10 in any suitable manner, as by screws 51 which extend into suitable threaded bores in the side plate 10, includes the usual coil 5-2 and plunger 53 which is retracted into the il when the coil is energized. The plunger is disposed vertically `and also radially with respect to the drive roller shaft 28 and is biased downwardly and outwardly of the coil and toward a stop disk 54, rigidly secured to the drive roller shaft 28, by a pair of tension springs 55. Opposite ends of the springs are secured to a bolt 56 which passes transversely through the solenoid plunger and to a bracket 57. The bracket 57 has a flange portion 58 attached to the vertical plate 10 by the same screws 51 which secu-re the solenoid to the vertical plate. The bracket 57 is also anranged to be disposed below the bolt 56 -in the plunger which moves freely through an aperture in the bracket. The stop disk 54 is spaced from the drive roller by a spacer `54a also secured to the shaft.

vIt will be apparent that when the solenoid coil is energized, the plunger is mofved upwardly into the coil against the resistance of the springs 55 and that when the solenoid coil is de-energized the springs move the plunger downwardly and outwardly of the coil and into one of the peripheral recesses or stop notches 60 of the stop disk. A pair of stop lugs 59l are formed on the plunger on opposite sides thereof and at a dist-ance below the coil 52 for the purpose of limiting upward movement of the plunger. The distan-ce is sulcient for the plunger to be completely extracted from a stop notch. The stop recesses or notches of the stop disk are spaced in accordance with the lengths of the individual stamps in the stamp strip and are so aligned with respect to t-he drive lugs 29 of the drive roller that whenever the motor is de-energized, the plunger prevents further rotation of the stop disk, and therefore of the drive rolller to cause the strip of stamps which has been dispensed through the narrow rectangular dispensing slot in the front of the housing to be so positioned that the transverse row of perforations between the last stamp dispensed and the remainder of the strip is aligned with the flront wall orf the housing at the dispensing slot. Hence, the stamps may be easily separated from the strip by pulling upwardly or downwardly thereon to cause the last dispensed stamp to be easily severed from the strip along the transverse line of perforations.

The free end [of the plunger which is movable into the stop notches has outwardly convergent side edges which conform tothe shape of the notches so that the camming action between the side edges of the plunger and surfaces of the stop disk defining each slot causes the drive roller shaft always to be moved to predetermined positions which cause a transverse row of tear perforations of the stamp strip to be properly positioned at the outer edge of the delivery slot to facilitate the severance of the dispensed stamps and prevent tearing thereof. This carnming action moves the strip forward if for some reason the motor shaft stops -rotating prematurely or moves the strip backward if the motor overruns.

lIlhe electrical control circuit for the apparatus is diagralrnm-atically illustrated in l1EIGURE 4. For purposes of clarity, the conductors shown in FIGURE 4 are not shown in other figures of the drawing. The button switch 45 on the front wall of the housing connects the winding 46a of relay 46 across the main l-ine conductors 61 and 62 by means of the conductors 63, 64, yarr-d 65. The relay winding when energized closes a pair of contacts 66a and 66h. Closing of the contact 66a connects the solenoid coil 52 across the main line conductors by means of the conductors 67, 6%, and 69. When the solenoid is energized, the plunger in moving upwardly closes the switch 48 which connects the motor across the main line conductors by means of conductors 70, 71, and 72. Thus, it is apparent that closing of the button switch 4'5 results in loperati-on of the motor '40 and rotation of the stamp drive roller.

The relay 'assembly 46 comprising contact switches 66a and 66b is mounted on the housing floor by any suitable means and at any suitable location. The switch 4S is mounted to the vertical support plate 10 by bolts which are preferably the same bolts 51 used in bolting the bracket S thereto and is located adjacent the plunger so that it is closed by the .arm 49 of the plunger when the plunger is in its retracted raised position.

Contact 66h, which is also closed by the winding 46a when button switch 45 is closed, serves to connect a normally closed switch 73 across the main line conductors by means of conductors 74, 75, and 76. If the button Switch should be closed for a time interval just long enough to energize the winding 46a, as by quickly pushing and releasing the button thereof, the winding will remain energized when the button is released since it remains connected across the main line conductors by the conductors 65, 75, and '76 and closed switches deb and '73. The switch 73 is mounted on the vertical supporting plate forwardly of the drive roller 22 and is opened by actuation of an operator lever 73a attached thereto and extending toward the drive roller. The operator lever is operated by pins 77 projecting laterally from the stop disk to successively open the switch. The pins are disposed on the left side of the stop disk 54 as viewed in FIGURE 1 and are arranged in a circle concentric with the roller drive shaft 28. The pins are equal in number to the stop notches 60 in the stop disk 54 and are equiangularly spaced on the stop disk whereby a single pin is located midway between a pair of adjacent stop notches 60. When the motor is energized and the drive roller rotates, clockwise in FIGURE l, a pin 77 pushes against the operator lever thereby opening the switch 73. If thepush button switch has been released to an open position, the opening of the switch 73 will result in the deenergizing of the solenoid coil 52. The co-action of the pin 77 and switch 73 is such that the switch is opened and the solenoid de-energized when the plunger is in alignment with a notch of the stop disk so that it will fall into a notch and abruptly stop the rotation of the drive roller.

The switch lever 73a is raised by a pin 77 as the drive roller rotates but is of such a length that it will fall off the pin as the pin moves upwardly and away. Raising the lever opens the switch 73 but as the lever falls off the pin the switch is returned to its normally closed state. The normally closed switch maintains the relay winding energized for a time sutiicient to insure retraction of the solenoid plunger from a stop notch and maintain operation of the motor for a time sufficient to rotate (i the stop disk to where the plunger will be caused to fall into the next succeeding notch.

The stop notches are so spaced along the periphery of the stop disk that when the drive roller is rotated a sufficient distance for the solenoid plunger to be extracted from one stop notch and deposited in the next succeeding notch, a single stamp will have been dispensed through the dispensing slot in the front wall of the housing. Since the free end portion of the plunger which is movable into the stop slots has outwardly convergent side edges which conform to the shape of the slots or notches 60, the camming action between the side edges of the plunger and the surfaces of the stop disk defining each slot causes the drive roller shaft always to be moved to positions which cause a transverse row of perforations of the stamp strip to be properly positioned at the outer edge of the delivery slot in the front wall of the housing so as to facilitate the severance of the dispensed stamps and prevent tearing of any stamp. This camming action moves the strip forward if for some reason the motor stops rotating prematurely or, alternatively, moves the strip rearward if the motor should overrun, thus causing the machine to always dispense only an integral number of stamps.

It is apparent that the button switch need be closed for only a time suicient for the relay 46 to close the contacts 66a and 66h to thereby dispense a single stamp from the device. If the 'button switch is held down, it is also apparent that the motor and drive roller will continue to operate to dispense stamps for as long a time as the button switch is held since the operational condition of the switch 73 has no effect on the operation of the device until the button switch is released. Consequently, the unit may operate other than as a single stamp dispenser and the co-action of the pins 77 and switch 73 will insure that the motor will always be energized for a time suicient after opening of the button switch to cause the plunger to be aligned with a notch of the stop disk so as to fall therein, thus properly aligning the tear perforations between the last stamp dispensed and the rest of the strip with a tearing edge at the delivery slot.

A pressure clamp S0 is pivotally mounted on a shaft 81, the ends of which are disposed in longitudinal slots 82 in the side anges of the chute. The slots are disposed rearwardly of the drive roller, extending parallel with the bottom of the chute, and are provided with upwardly extending slot portions 83 adjacent the drive roller whereby when .the clamp is slid forwardly it will also move upwardly against the roller due to the engagement of its shaft with edges defining upwardly extending slot por tions 83.

The pressure clamp has an arcuate shape of substantially the same radius of curvature as the drive roller surface so that when the shaft 81 is slid forwardly in the slots, the concave surface of the clamp conforms with the surface of the roller to press against the stamp strip threaded about the roller. Spacer members 84 are rotatably disposed on the shaft 81 at opposite sides of the clamp and adjacent each side of the chute. The spacers serve to center the clamp on its shaft so that when pivoted against the drive roller it will engage the surface of the roller between the roller flanges 22a and 22b. Each spacer member has a reduced diameter portion 84a for accommodating the roller anges and permitting the pressure clamp to engage the roller throughout its arcuate surface when it is slid forward to pressl thereagainst. The pressure clamp is also provided with two parallel arcuate grooves extending in its concave surface throughout its arcuate length. The grooves are aligned to accommodate passage of the two rows of drive lugs 29 of the drive roller and are of suicient depth to allow the clamp to press against the roller surface without interference from the drive lugs.

A substantially U-shaped push bracket 85 has angularly extending end portions 86 disposed outwardly of the sides of the chute 30 and secured to the end portions of the shaft 31 projecting outwardly beyond the sides of the chute whereby the push bracket 85 may be employed to move the pressure clamp between its operative position illustrated in FIGURE 2 and a strip threading position illustrated in FIGURE 3. To urge the clamp forwardly against the roller, a resilient metallic leaf spring 87 is fastened by a screw 88 to the back of the clamp. The spring S7 is of such length that it will press against the rear end portion of the bottom of the chute to bias the clamp in an upward and predominantly forward direction against the drive roller when the clamp is slid forward and pivoted to engage the roller. The spring is also suiiiciently long so that while a portion thereof may abut and press against the bottom or web of the chute, the free end itself does not since it never enters the chute during pivoting of the clamp, thereby permitting easy retraction of the pressure clamp from its operating position.

An additional resilient leaf spring 89 is bolted to the chute web 31 so as to be ilat thereagainst. The spring is provided with a curved hook portion 89a at one end which is disposed in the chute to be substantially forwardly aligned with the upwardly extending slots 83 in the sides of the chute. The pressure clamp, when in its forward operating position to engage the drive roller, also presses against the free end hook portion 89a of the resilient strip 89 and is thereby biased upwardly against the drive roller. The resilient member 89a also serves to retain the pressure clamp shaft in the upward extending slots 83 in the chute sides.

It will be apparent that when the pressure clamp is moved to its rearward position as in FIGURE 3, the strip of stamps may be easily threaded about the drive roller 22 so that the drive roller lugs 29 enter into the perforations of the strip of stamps and that after the strip has been so threaded and placed in engagement with the drive roller, the pressure clamp may be moved forwardly and pivoted toward the drive roller to yieldingly hold a strip of stamps in engagement with the roller.

A counter 9G, of the mechanical type, for counting the number of stamps dispensed by the device, is mounted on the bottom wall of the housing and has an operator lever 91 extending towards a wheel 92 rigidly secured to the drive roller shaft 28. The wheel 92 has a suitable aperture for accommodating the drive roller shaft and is fixed to the left end portion of the roller shaft as viewed in FIGURE l. A spacer nut 93 on the roller shaft spaces the wheel from the vertical support 25 and a lock nut 94 locks the wheel against the spacer 93. The wheel 92 has circumferentially spaced counting pins 95 on the periphery thereof each of which trips or depresses the free end 91a of the lever 91 on the counter and the wheel rotates with the drive roller. The number of counting pins corresponds with the number of stop notches in the solenoid plunger stop disk 44. The angular spacing between counting pins on the wheel is equal to that between stop notches on the stop disk and the wheel is so arranged on the roller shaft 28 that when the plunger is in inserted position in a stop notch of the stop disk, the free end of the lever 91 is disposed substantially midway between a pair of counting pins 95. Thus, for a rotation of the drive roller wherein the solenoid plunger is moved from one stop notch to the next thereby dispensing a single stamp, the operator lever 91 is tripped only once by a counting pin 9S and a count of one is made by the counter 90. It is obvious that each stamp dispensed by the device will then be counted by the counter 90. The counter is preferably of the type which displays the count in visible numbers so that the count may be readily observed through an access door in the back of the housing or by removing the back of the housing.

It will be seen that the stamp dispensing device described above will readily and accurately dispense a single stamp by merely pushing and releasing the button switch. Alternatively, the button may be held down to operate the device to dispense any desired number of stamps.

It will also be seen that the dispensing device will always dispense a whole number of stamps since whenever the button switch is opened the drive roller will continue to be driven by the motor until the solenoid is deenergized by the co-action of the pins 77 and switch 73 to allow the solenoid plunger to fall into a. notch of the stop disk.

It will further be seen that while the device has been designed to accommodate a single column of stamps thereby permitting the dispensing of a single stamp, if so desired, the device may also be designed to accommodate any number of columns of stamps so long as the stamps are aligned in parallel rows and the transverse tear perforations in each column are in alignment. The modification of the dispenser would entail merely the widening of the spool, rollers, and associated stamp strip receiving parts. In this manner, the device may be used to dispense stamps in multiples of a number corresponding with the number of columns.

The foregoing description of the invention is explanatory only, and changes in the details of the construction illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art, within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A tape dispensing device for dispensing tape having longitudinally spaced perforations comprising: a. support; a roller journalled on said support and having drive means on its surface adapted to engage in the perforations in the tape; power drive means for rotating the roller; control means for controlling the operation of said power drive means; and brake means operatively associated with the roller for stopping rotation of the roller in either direction when the means for rotating the roller is rendered inoperable; supporting structure having elongate slots with slot extensions extending toward the roller and adjacent thereto; a pressure clamp pivotally mounted on a shaft, the end portions of said shaft extending outwardly through the elongate slots and slidable along said slots; and means on said supporting structure for biasing said clamp against said roller when the shaft is in the slot extensions.

2. The apparatus recited in claim l where said means for biasing said clamp is a resilient leaf spring attached to said supporting structure and having a. resilient free end portion below said slot extensions and adapted to urge said clamp upwardly against said roller when said shaft is in the slot extensions.

3. The device recited in claim 1 where said clamp has an arcuate shape adapted to conform with the roller surface when said clamp shaft is in the slot extensions and pivoted against the roller.

4. The device recited in claim 3 including a resilient leaf spring having one end attached to the convex surface of said clamp and a free end engageable with said supporting structure when the clamp shaft is in the slot extensions and the clamp is pivoted against the roller.

5. A dispensing device for dispensing tape having longitudinally spaced perforations including: a drive roller having drive means on its periphery adapted to engage in the perforations in the tape to dispense the tape from the device when the drive roller is rotated; an electric motor including a motor shaft in driving engagement with said drive roller; circuit means for connecting said motor in circuit with a source of electrical power; a manually operated switch in said circuit; a solenoid brake means including a solenoid operatively associated with said circuit rneans and drive roller for stopping rotation of the drive roller in either direction when said solenoid is deenergized; relay means responsive to closure of said switch to connect the solenoid of said brake means in said circuit means thereby releasing the solenoid brake means; means responsive to energization of said solenoid to connect said motor in circuit with said power source; relay hold means responsive to closure of said manually operated switch to hold said relay energized when said manual switch is opened thereby maintaining said solenoid and motor energized, said hold means including a normally closed switch means ,operatively associated with said drive roller to release said relay hold means at a selected one of a plurality of predetermined positions of said drive roller thereby de-energizing said relay and solenoid when said manual switch is open to cause application of the solenoid brake and de-energization of the electric drive motor when said drive roller is rotated to said selected position.

6. The device recited in claim wherein said solenoid brake means includes a stop disk co-axial with said drive roller and in rigid connection therewith, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots; a solenoid plunger movable in said slots for preventing rotation of the roller; and mounting means for said plunger to place said plunger in locking engagement with one of said slots when said solenoid is de-energized and to extract said plunger from the slot when the solenoid is energized.

7. A dispensing device for dispensing tape having longitudinally spaced perforations including: a drive roller having drive means on its periphery adapted to engage in the perforations in the tape to dispense the tape from the device when the drive roller is rotated; an electric motor including a motor shaft in driving engagement with said drive roller; solenoid brake means for stopping rotation of the drive roller in either direction When said motor is inoperative and operative only when said drive roller is in any one of a plurality of predetermined posiby said solenoid brake means for connecting said motor to a source of electric power when said solenoid brake means is not operative, said solenoid brake means includnoid brake means including a rst switch means operable tions; and control means for said motor and said soleing a solenoid, a plunger operable by said solenoid, a stop disk coaxial with said drive roller and in rigid connection therewith, said disk having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, said slots being equal in number and corresponding to said plurality of said predetermined positions of said drive roller, said plunger being movable into said slots when said solenoid is deenergized to render said solenoid brake means operative to prevent rotation of the drive roller when said drive roller is in any one of said predetermined positions, and mounting means for said plunger; said control means including hold relay means for connecting said solenoid to said source of electric power, second switch means for energizing said relay means to connect said solenoid to said source of electric power, and third normally closed switch means operatively associated with said relay means for holding said relay means energized after said second switch means is opened, said drive roller having means engageable with said third switch means to open said third switch means when said drive roller is in any one of said predetermined positions.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,097,788 Furrer Nov. 2, 1937 2,228,092 Sperry Jan. 7, 1941 2,600,636 Goetz et al. June 17, 1952 2,746,751 Le Baron et al. May 22, 1956 2,801,848 Taylor Aug. 6, 1957 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIcE CERTIFICATE OE CORRECTION Patent No. 3, 125,267 March 17', 1964.

Charles E. Stanwsell It is hereby certified that .error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below. l

Column lO, line l, beginning with "by said solenoid" strike out all to and including. "and said `sole-J' in line., 5, same v column 10, and insert instead the following:

tions.; and control means for said motor and said solenoid brake means including a first switch means operable'rby said solenoid brake means for connecting saidl motor to a source of'electric power'fwhen said solenoid brake means is not. operative, said solenoid brake means includ l I Signed and sealedy this 14th day ofrJuly 19641.y

l (SEAL) Attest: ESTON G. JOHNSON EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of' Patentsl Attesting Officer 

1. A TAPE DISPENSING DEVICE FOR DISPENSING TAPE HAVING LONGITUDINALLY SPACED PERFORATIONS COMPRISING: A SUPPORT; A ROLLER JOURNALLED ON SAID SUPPORT AND HAVING DRIVE MEANS ON ITS SURFACE ADAPTED TO ENGAGE IN THE PERFORATIONS IN THE TAPE; POWER DRIVE MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROLLER; CONTROL MEANS FOR CONTROLLING THE OPERATION OF SAID POWER DRIVE MEANS; AND BRAKE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ROLLER FOR STOPPING ROTATION OF THE ROLLER IN EITHER DIRECTION WHEN THE MEANS FOR ROTATING THE ROLLER IS RENDERED INOPERABLE; SUPPORTING STRUCTURE HAVING ELONGATE SLOTS WITH SLOT EXTENSIONS EXTENDING TOWARD THE ROLLER AND ADJACENT THERETO; A PRESSURE CLAMP PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A SHAFT, THE END PORTIONS OF SAID SHAFT EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THROUGH THE ELONGATE SLOTS AND SLIDABLE ALONG SAID SLOTS; AND MEANS ON SAID SUPPORTING STRUCTURE FOR BIASING 